Tag: summer of fear

It seems like my day will continue to rock with these new songs from Memphis based Ex-Cult. So the band is releasing a brand new 7″ soon, and in preparation they have posted both of the new songs on bandcamp for all to enjoy. I’m sharing both below, and many of you might recognize “1906” from earlier this month, but new song “Summer of Fear” is really doing it for me. While rock at it’s core, I love the overtones of punk rock and psychedelia as well.

A little while back, a favorite artist of ours Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson made his way to town and we had the chance to ask him a few questions about his music. Not much is known about the up and coming artist so we hope you find this interview to be informative. Or at least a good read… Follow the jump for our full interview.

We won’t deny that we’ve been in love with Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson since his self-titled debut came out a few years ago, pushing it into our Top 40 Albums of 2008. Now, he is making his way to Austin in support of his newest album Summer of Fear, which is equally as stellar, if not a bit more developed sonically. You should definitely make your way out to Emos tonight to check on him. He’ll be on stage at 11PM, followed by Warpaint, and preceded by My Education.

Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinsonburst onto the scene a few years ago with the support of the New York hierarchy. Now, as he releases his second album, Summer of Fear, which is his first for Saddle Creek, he goes and grabs Kyp Malone of TV on the Radioto aid in production duties. Would having such a producer ultimately effect the aesthetics of our new favorite troubador? How would Malone put his own touches on the record, or would he?

Upon first listen all the way through, you can immediately tell the difference between Summer of Fear and Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson. Sure, there are ecclectic touches, no doubt influenced by the presence of Malone, but there is a certain sesnse of urgency lacking in these songs. “Shake a Shot” opens the album without making that statement you expected, although you can still feel the passion in the lyrics.

“Always an Anchor” is the second song, and it happens to be one of the more powerful song on the record. You can hear the struggle of daily life in the guttural power behind MBAR‘s vocals, which is precisely what made his first effort so powerful. This time around, it’s a bit more sparse than you would otherwise want, or rather, expect. If you listen to it closely, you can almost hear the “Wolf Like Me” guitar chug in the background.

What does seem more pronounced on this album, or perhaps clearer due to the clarity of the voice is the clarity of the lyrical content. We all know by now about MBAR‘s struggles, but it’s how he spins those around to churn out great tunes which is admirable. Not only that, but he sings about the despair of humanity, but in doing so, he seems to sing it with such conviction and understanding that you can’t really be worried about it any longer. It’s as if he has come to accept it more as fact, and the listener should too.

Listening to this album, you will find your songs that you like, and you’ll find flourishes of things un-MBAR, such as the various string elements, seen in songs like “Hard Row,” that occasionally seem out of place mid-song. Still, the more songs this guy churns out, you feel as if the better off we all are, as Summer of Fear, though hindered by various elements, demonstrates the songwriting capabilities of Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson; we should all be grateful for such an emerging voice.

Last year, Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson swept into our top albums of the year, and he looks like he’s trying to make it for two years in a row. He’s about to release his new album Summer of Fear on Saddle Creek Records (it’s already available on iTunes) on October 20th. The production on “The Sound” is a lot stronger than the previous album, and you might just be able to pick out a few of Miles’ friends.